The Courage of Your Convictions

   “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

                                                                            Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Do you have convictions?  Strong beliefs about right and wrong, about justice (criminal as well as social), moral obligations, and good old every day ethics!  Do you see regrettable things happening all around you and sometimes feel helpless to stop them.  Do you consider yourself to be a strong, brave and even a visionary leader of sorts?  If you answered yes to any of these questions then you must act!

If you really have the courage of your convictions, you are brave enough to do what you feel is right, despite any pressure for you to do something different.   Sometimes your choice is between doing something different or doing nothing!   The real danger lies in thinking it won’t matter either way.

For generations Americans, great and small, have demonstrated the courage of their convictions in ways that made them vulnerable, disliked, vilified and even made outcasts from their immediate society as well as the greater world at large.   Because they were willing to stand tall and speak out on important issues that face our country they were susceptible to pain, torture and even death.   So think about my question again. Do you have convictions?   Do you have the courage of your convictions?  What are you, individually, or as part of a group, willing to do?  What are you willing to risk, to make sure that America not only lives up to it’s promise but also ensures and disseminates those rights and privileges equitably. 

We all know and readily acknowledge the sacrifices of leaders like Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr., Medgar Evers, John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan.  Individuals who also gave their lives and were martyred for what they believed include James E. Chaney, Andrew Goodman; and Michael Schwerner, three murdered freedom riders for civil rights.  See this link from the Southern Poverty Law Center http://www.crmvet.org/mem/41lives.htm that lists some individuals you may not have heard of.  They are all listed as martyrs for civil rights in the U. S.  I am positive that the actual number is incalculable.

A story about one such individual that stands out in my mind is that of Harry T. Moore, a former Florida Educator that devoted his life to fairness, social justice and civil rights in a time when the local, state and federal government either had no interest, power or incentive to protect him.   I’ll bet most readers will never have heard of him.  Read more about Harry at http://www.pbs.org/harrymoore/harry/index.html, and see the documentary about his life from PBS, Freedom Never Dies.  He is a real unsung hero.

We must speak up about our beliefs at every opportunity while we can.  Educate your children, family, your friends, your neighbors about what you see as injustices and threats to our freedom.  The worst they can do is reject your message.  In the end, what have you lost?  On the other hand, you may have awakened a fellow vocal patriot!